That is the question being raised by the BBC news article and specifically name Ohio since it was the key “swing” state in the last election.The BBC noted that the religious “right” helped the election process in 2004, especially in Ohio. But they note a shift in a new movement called the religious “left”. One of the star interviews was Joel Hunter of a mega church in Longwood, FL. This is the same Joel Hunter from the failed “Air America” radio program.
America’s so-called “religious right” has been one of the pillars of Republican Party support in recent decades, but signs are emerging that those once secure foundations might be shifting.
In both George W Bush’s presidential victories, he managed to secure a vast majority of the evangelical Christian vote
In 2004, the “hot button” policies curtailing abortion and same-sex marriage were seen as being crucial to Republican electoral success in, for example, the key swing states of Ohio and Florida.
But in last November’s Congressional races - where Democrats regained control of both the House and the Senate - some Republican defeats came at the hands of a new religiously-inspired movement, which some are calling the “evangelical left”.
I disagree with the assessment that the Republicans lost because of what the BBC called the subtle shift. It might be said that it was so subtle that it wasn’t noticeable. What the real problem is that too many people we disappointed by the continual “elect us so we can change things” and then watching moderate Republicans (who ran as conservatives) act like liberals.
Any shift in allegiance isn’t based on reversing the trend but rather on the continued liberalization of the churches. Churches that support the killing of infants in the womb, openly support gay marriage and have become enamored by the Climate change issue never supported Bush. Rather they have been actively working for a number of elections to defeat the conservatives.
If Republicans stand by their values of life, secure borders, limited government and lower taxes (while acting on those values) they won’t see any shift away. But if they pursue a course similar to former Governor Bob Taft and current Sen. Voinovich then there will be trouble ahead for the party and the support they once garnered from the “religious right”.
However, they should be less concerned about the religious part and concentrate on the conservative part. It has never been about religion… as much as it has been about those people who have generally held more conservative views of life and the Constitution.
Add A Comment